Connector



Patented Oct. 26, 1948 PATENT QF'F] CE zneaun. Y

' CONNECTOR Dalton E; Cole, Ghioago li-li Application October 25, 1945, Serial-No. 6246533) "1; Claims. (01. while Thisinvention relates to connectors and more particularly it relates to a device for anchoring an element such asan-el'eotric conduit, an electric conductor or the like to a support such as an outletloo-X or junction box or the like.

' 'One of the object's-ofthisihvention is-tho provision of a connector which maybe easily and securely fastened to the supportwiththe connect'ed element gripped by the device,- whereby it isseourely anchored to the support;

Another object" is to provi de'a twopart =conneetor with the body: portion of one part disposed at one side-of the wall of the support and the other; part disposed onthe opposite side of" the wall, with-the two par-ts- -pavtly gripping the-wall and one or-the parts t'ig ht'ly'gripping the con neot'edelement.

Another: object: is to provide a two-part conne'ctor, one part of which is formed" with jaws for engaging the element connected to the support, and the other part having a thnead'ed comnectionwith the-first part whereby whenthe two parts are screwed up tightly with the wall of the: suppont interposed between themthejaw-s are swung; into gripping engagement: with-the con-- nected'elementi Other objects and: advantages: will appear "in the course oi "thiSe specification; 'andw wi'thoall. of; said objects: and advantages in View; this inverttion; consistsyin the severalxnovel fceatures "hereinarter fullyz set:f orthand: claimed:

Thesinventionis clearly'illustrated imthe-rdr-awa ing: accompanying this -specificaltion', lin whi-ch r' ig. -1I is. a front/elevation 'of-i'a junction box illustrating 'twowof: the connectors isecured upon; onefof its'walls;

Fig; -2 515 ion :enlargedidetail longitudinal section takengthrough one of: thenconneo-tors; an'dishowing: its applica'tion' t-o the wallvofaasupport;

Ji in-.3. is an ,-en-1arg'ed; detail :section l through the body portion. of oneself the connectors seen in Fig. 1, the line of seotionvheingindicatedtat3+ inFlg; l;

Meson-end elevationtof' thez-hodyaportion of one of the conneotorsseeninflig; 12;.

,-'Ei'g.=5- isza fragmental longitudinalsection showingsslightly modifiediorm. of the-invention;

Fig. ie-an--errd1, e1evation1 upon an enlarged soale-- of the-=-bo d-y -liontiyon-.of: a: modified'i-form "of connector; and

Fig.1? i's a-ver-tical'rcross sectionyta'ken onythe, line'l.--11 ofFig; -6.-.

Referring to saidndrawing andlfirsittojFlgures. Lto 4: inclusive; the--referencescharacter-- l fliidesienotes a supgor-t, mere shown in the-norm" ofii an" outlet or junction box-,- tothe wall" 11i; ofs w h'ieha two of the connectors 12 are rastenedywone eerwxing to=-anchor an armored cable 1:3iitoJthei b0X', and one'serv ingt'o anchor-an electrioa conductor l l tcth-ehox; i The -conne otors shown: in Fig. 2 1? are similar in: construction; one being; slightly larger-than the; other to a ccommodaite it; to an hammered ica hl'ez. i3 whioh ls -ofi a diame'teo slightly greater. than; that of the eiectricalseonduotor1M.J Thendesoripe tion off-one connectorwillaithenefore. suffieeafiox b03111. 1

- Thehodyapontion: 21:5:of aeachconnector-is mail-. enably of a atruncatedicone shaped term; the hose: of which terminates in an annular bearing-niece: or shoulder lfi whichais adaptedto;-abut;.:aeainst one facev'of v".t'h'e 'walljrlzll. The hodyanontionnofi the connector is recessed inwardly from thefloearins; face. end andrirom the middlenortioniofitheibody portion-extends :aiscnewlthreaded nipple: It whidh; proj ects beyond the; plane of; the; annular; mean-- ing: face 7 6 =.and::.is adeptefii to extend:v throuehua: hole- I 81 n thew-ell :Hi tor-receive s; jcla'mping-tmemher: =la9.;,.her e shownlin thei-ormiofaa nut... v t The conicalpart Ofethfi bod-in:hortiorwsislet/ted radially as atom-toolrovideasegmentszille.saidslots extending fromcsbhea .thne adedmi'pple: Whichris; not slottedl throughout the; greater;ipontionnof its: length, sand; form-s, theaoonnecting: imedium, he tween-the:.seementsohl. 'Thejholerin the nipple-is extendcdithnoughtheconioal part :of; -.the; h0dy= portiorrxand .is. oi a. diameter to: permitzithe. ifme insertion of j anrormoredacalble; -,-anieleetrio2tlicpne ductor or other element through the .bodyllpor tion' and; except w henc'inruse, nsaidiiholeiisaroylindrical. The corners formed betweenstheiwezllioff the a hole "and-:the; endufiaioesrof-xthe; segments are desirably roundedvoff ases-eeniin Rigs Zondtfi:

irnwan choring anaelementzsuoh 8;: n; amneredcable, zeleotric "oonductomorathellikezlt 332.; support; the. threaded; nipplelis cinsetted-athrough;the see lectediholerinithesupportmmdxtheielampmut:pare tiallwscrewedr upronirthethreaded niptple. IIhe end ofsthe lQHl-Eflt'ltOfbGfan-011013611 to theisunportisrthensinserted; through :the nippmr and -.irrto':theinterior 5 oi the -..sunpo1rt :ifor: a-. sufiicient iidistamte t zmalie therneoessary; conneotionsitherein. "The nut iii then: screwed upxtightogagainst the V1111; Inasmuch as: the lbody; rportioniofvit'lie connector: bears: against .the walliat its aperipherellzporiion' onlyrthe continueditighterringzup ofrthenutldraws the anippie and: therewith lithe tapes; semi ef 117116 segments-i112 thezrdireotion 0t the-:wa'll erehyi causingarithel apex-:endsrofizzthe :segmentslto" co e verge toward the element, :thenehyirimpingmgiupe 3 on the element and indenting it slightly thus effectively anchoring the element to the support so that it cannot be pulled away therefrom.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the parts are substantially the same as those of the corresponding parts seen in Figs. 1 to 4, except that the corners formed between the internal walls of the nipple portion and the ,end faces of the segments are pointed or sharpened as at 22, and they cut into .the connected element when the nut is screwed up tightly.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the construction of the body portion |a of the connector is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, ex-

cept that the tapered faces are fiat, and a rubber or other elastic filler 23 is filled in the slots between the segments and in the recess at the back of the body portion and the bore through the nipple and body portion is lined with similar material, thereby providing a seal between the support and connector. When the clamping nut is. applied, this resilient or plastic material will be deformed by the pressure exerted to close or fill in all the holes or dents, whereby moisture, gas orair escape. .In the case where both units may be metallic as well as the conduit, this resilient or plastic element may be made of an electrical insulating material which will further serve the purpose of becomingan electrical insulator. When this resilient material is introduced it will permit reasonable movement of the conductor, cable, conduit or other element due to expansion, contraction or other vibration without affecting the seal.

The body portion of the connector may be formed of metal or other resilient material such as plastic. v,

The use of this device is not necessarily restricted to the use of, or application to, the anchoring electrical conductors, but may be applied to many other uses such as holding or clamping of hollow pipes for fuel lines, waterlines, gas lines, etc., through the holding of rods, bars or shafts, clamp ing of cords cables or ropes, or for holding any device in locked or anchored location.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. I

- What I claim' as new Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the kind described for anchoring an element to an apertured supporting member, with the element-extended through the aperture in said supporting member, comprising a unit having a hole extending axially through the same of a size to permit insertion of the element therethrough, and having one end reduced to provide a nipple of a size to be insertable through the aperture in said supporting member and to proand desire to secure by vide a fiat shoulder adjacent the juncture of the nipple, said unit having a plurality of axially extending slots extending from the adjacent shoulder to the smaller end of the unit and providing segmental jaws capable of flexing on the nipple, a second unitadjustably mounted on the reduced end Of the first unit and operative to draw the shoulder of the first unit into engagement with the supporting member a distance sufficient.to..contract=the slotted end or the first 4 unit to engage the element positioned in the hole.

2. A device of the kind described for anchoring an element to an apertured supporting member, with the element extended through the aperture in the supporting member, consisting of a recessed body portion having an annular fiat shoul= der and a nipple extending from the body of a size to project through said aperture, the body portion and nipple having a tubular bore of a size to permit the insertion of the element therethrough, said body portion being tapered adjacent its juncture with the nipple to its end, and having radially extending slots intercepting the bore to provide a plurality of segmental jaws capable of flexing on the nipple, and means for drawing the annular shoulder of the body portion into contact with the supporting member, actuated to contract the jaws at their free ends and clamp the element in place.

3. A connector adapted to anchor an element to an apertured supporting member, comprising two cooperative units, one comprising a tapered body portion having an annular fiat shoulder at the base, adapted to engage one side of thesupporting member, said body portion being formed with a screw threaded nipple extending axially of the body portion and beyond the base thereof and adapted to extend through the aperture to the supporting member, said body portion and its nipple having a hole extending therethrough of a diameter to permit insertion of the element therethrough, and said tapered body portion having radially extending slots extending to said nipple with segments of the body portion disposed between the slots and capable of flexing on the nipple, and the second unit comprising a nut threaded upon said nipple and adapted to bear against the opposite side of the supporting memher, said nut when screwed up tight functioning to contract the free ends of the segments upon the element.

4. A connector adapted to anchor an element to an apertured supporting member, comprising two cooperative units, one comprising a tapered recessed body portion having an annular flat shoulder at its base adapted to engage one side of the supporting member, said body portion being formed with a screw threaded nipple extending axially of the body portion and beyond the base thereof and adapted to extend through the aperture of the supporting membensaid body portion and its nipple having a hole therein of a diameter permitting the insertion of the element therethrough, and said tapered body portion having radially extending slots extending to the nipple providing resilient jaws between the slots capableof flexing on'the nipple, and the second unit comprising a nut threaded upon said nipple and adapted to bear'against the opposite side of the supporting member, said nut when screwed up tight functioning to contract the free ends of the jaws upon the element.

5. A connector adapted to anchor an element to an apertured supporting member, comprising two cooperative units, one comprising a radially slotted tapered body portion having an annular fiat shoulder at its base forming a fiat seating face adapted to engage one side of the supporting member, there being a, recess extending inward from said shoulder, said body portion being formed with a screw threaded nipple extending axially of the body portion, said body portion and its nipple having a. hole therein of a diameter permitting the element to be inserted therethrough, a filler of yieldable material in the slots,

in the recess, and lining the wall of the hole in the body and nipple, and the second unit comprising a nut threaded upon said nipple and adapted to bear against the opposite side of the supporting member, said nut when screwed up tight functioning to contract the free ends of the jaws upon the element and to compress the yieldable material.

6. A connector adapted to anchor an element to an apertured supporting member, comprising two cooperative units, one comprising a radially slotted tapered body portion having an annular flat shoulder at its base forming a flat seating face adapted to engage one side of the supporting member, said slotted tapered body portion providing segmental jaws, and there being a recess extending inward from said shoulder, said body portion being formed with a, screw threaded nipple extending axially of the body portion, said body portion and its nipple having a hole therein of a diameter permitting the element to be inserted therethrough, a filler of yieldable insulating material in the slots, in the recess, and lining the wall of the hole in the body and nipple, and the second unit comprising a nut threaded upon said nipple and adapted to bear against the opposite side of the supporting member, said nut when screwed up tight functioning to contract the free ends of the jaws upon the element and to compress the yieldable material.

7. A connector adapted to anchor a conductor or cable to an apertured outlet box, comprising two cooperative units, one comprising a tapered recessed body portion having an annular flat shoulder at the base adapted to engage one side of the outlet box, said body portion being formed with a threaded nipple extending axially of the body portion and beyond the base thereof, and adapted to extend through the aperture in the outlet box, said body portion and its nipple having a hole extending therethrough of a diameter to permit insertion of the conductor or cable therethrough, and said tapered body portion hav- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.20,873 Fullman Oct. 4, 1938 420,391 Rice Jan. 28, 1890 1,902,229 Goetzelman Mar. 21, 1933 2,346,706 Stoner Apr. 18, 1944 

